Portable ring storage and feeding unit

ABSTRACT

A portable storage and feeding device for rings or similar articles having openings therethrough comprising a helical rack member and means for feeding the rings or articles onto the helical rack member by passing the coils through the openings of the rings and including means for advancing the rings on and off of the rack member. A first embodiment utilizes wiper members partially supporting the rack member for advancing the rings on and off the helical rack member, while a second embodiment utilizes a gravity feed and discharge arrangement.

1 An. Ml, 11973 United States Patent [191 m V 3 M .W 6 m mm M m mm LN PMm Am RM e C mm EF T A6 m NH 1 m w 8 7 4 m 0 T s G mm m BG Am D mm PF M1U [75] Inventor: Sidney M., Nam), Rockton, I11.

[73] Assignee: The Bendix Corporation, Southfield, y Examirler-EV0nBlunk Mich Assistant Examiner-Johnny D. Cherry Att0rneyJohn R. Benefieland Plante, Hartz, Smith and Thompson [22] Filed: Apr. 28, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 32,669

[ SCT A portable Storage and feeding device for rings or [51] lint.33/00 similar articles having openings therethrough compris- [58] Fieldof Search ..................193/12; 198/79, 136, ing a helical rackmember and means for feeding the rings or articles onto the helical rackmember by passing the coils through the openings of the rings andReferences flied including means for advancing the rings on and off ofUNITED STATES PATENTS v the rack member. A first embodiment utilizeswiper members partially supporting the rack member for advancing therings on and off the helical rack member, while a second embodimentutilizes a gravity feed and 11/1883 Gnmmett et al. ..........160/343discharge arrangement 2,623,708 2/1953 Wahl et a1. 3,261,453 7/1966288,231

12 ,1 w 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED APR 1 0 973 sum 2 UF 4 l ll PATENTEUAPR 1 01975 SHEET 3 OF 4 mam/m? fiZ/W /7/V4 WM 1 3 PORTABLE RING STORAGEAND FEEDING UNIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Similar problems areinvolved in other manufacturing operations in which large numbers ofsmall articles having central openings therethrough must be handled ingreat numbers repeatedly.

Prior art storage units, as for example the units disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 3,261,453 and 3,071,240 have taken advantage of the inherent spacesavings characteristic of a helical rack and combined it with wipers toadvance parts along the helical rack. However, these units havearrangements for placing the articles within a channel formed in thehelical rack, which arrangement is not suitable for piston rings asthere are severe limitations as to adaptability of diflering sizes ofarticles, the disposition of articles does not, in the case of ringedarticles, make most efficient use of the available storage space, andalso the rack must be vertically oriented since gravity is utilized toretain the articles in the channel. In addition, these units are fixedand do not provide for relative portability for convenient removal to astorage area.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide aportable storage rack in which a large number of rings or similararticles are capable of being stored in a small volume of space.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a storage unitwhich is capable of handling rings or other articles of widely varyingsizes and configurations.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a storagerack which may be disposed in either the horizontal or verticaldirections and does not necessarily depend on gravity for retention ofthe articles on the rack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION being-mounted for ready portability so as toallow them to be moved to a storage area until needed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an end view of the power drivenembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the power driven embodiment shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view of the section taken along a line 3-3 in FIG. 2'.

FIG. 4 is a view of the section taken along the lines 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view of the section taken along the lines 5-5 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the gravity feed embodiment of theinvention. 1

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a segment of the coiled rack shownin FIG. 5 showing the installation of the lifting eye.

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the gravity feed embodiment in the directionof the lines 5-5 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a view of the section taken along the lines 9- 9 in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the following detailed description certainspecific terminology will be employed and particular embodimentsdescribed for the sake of clarity and in order to provide a full andcomplete understanding of the invention, but it is to be understood thatthe invention is not so limited and may be practiced in a variety offorms and embodiments.

Referring to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, the powerdriven storage device 15 is indicated. This unit includes a coilassembly 12 disposed in surrounding relationship to a wiper assembly Mwith both supported on a frame 15, the wiper assembly M being driven bya drive mechanism 15.

The coil assembly l2 includes the coil rack member 20 having at one enda coil segment 22 extending tangentially from the periphery of the coil.The opposite end of the coil rack member 25 is disposed with the lastloop 24 partially within a groove 25 (FIG. 5) formed in a retainer plate25 and secured therein by means of clamps 35 disposed at intervals alonggroove 25, which also serves to anchor the coil rack member 25 againstrelative rotative movement.

Retainer plate 25 is supported rotatively by the bearing 32 (FIG. 5) andis normally positioned against rotative movement by means of anadjustment mechanism 34 (FIG. 3 and 5) which includes the threaded rod35 laterally positioned with respect to plate 35 and pinned to retainerplate 25 at 55 by means of the threaded member 52 connected to a pin 55which passes through a slot through the end plate 55 provided in orderto obtain the necessary clearance. Rotation of the rod 35 by means ofsocket 55 secured thereto, allows the retainer plate 25 and attachedcoil raclt member 25 to be adjustably positioned about the axis of thebearing 32.

The wiper assembly M includes a cylindrical drum 52, which is rotativelysupported in bearings 55, 55, by means of extending axles 55 and 55,integral therewith.

The bearing assembly 32, providing support for end plate 28 isrotatively supported on a step portion 62 of the left-hand end of drum52. A plurality of wiper blades 64 are secured to the drum 52, eachincluding a roller element 66 in positive engagement with the coil rackmember to provide end support without excessive friction for the coilrack member 20.

Support for these assemblies is provided by the frame 16 which includesa frame member 68, consisting of a group of channel iron pieces weldedtogether, and provided with end plates 70, 72. End plate 70 is braced byplates 38, 74 shown extending outwardly to provide a handle 76 formoving the unit. The end plate 72 is braced by means of gussets 78, 80,82 and 84. The bearings 54, 56 are supported on the end plates 72 and 70by means of brackets 86, 88.

Frame 68 is supported by fixed casters 90, 92 and movable casters 94, 96which may be equipped with foot brakes so that the unit may be movedreadily and render the device portable. In addition, the connected jacks98, 100 are provided in order to selectively raise the free end of theunit in order to position segment 22 in position C shown in FIG. 1.

A drip pan 102 is also supplied to collect oil draining from the rings.

Drive mechanism 18 is provided to drive the wiper assembly 14 at avariable angular rate. This includes a reversible DC. motor 104 andvariable speed drive 106, the output 108 of which is drivingly connectedto the drum 52 by means of sprocket 110 secured to the output 108,sprocket 112 secured to the drum 52 with an interconnecting roller chain114.

A limit switch 116 is provided with leafs 118 designed to engageadvancing rings and discontinue the wiper drive 18 and/or any feedmachinery from which the rings are being accepted.

In operation, the coil segment 22 is adjusted to position A (FIG. 1) anddisposed at the acceptance point so as to intercept the rings 120 asthey exit from the grinding machine or other apparatus. The wiper motorand variable speed drive 104, 106 are activated with the wiper speedadjusted to correspond with the feed rate of the rings 120. The ringswill then be accepted onto the segment 22 where they will slide bygravity until engaging the wiper blades which will advance them down thelength of the coil rack member 20 until the first ring engages the leafs118 at which point the coil will be filled to capacity and the feed willbe discontinued.

In order to discharge the stored rings, the segment 22 is positioned inposition 8" with the end portion disposed at the point of delivery ofthe rings. The drive assembly 18 is then activated and adjusted todeliver the rings at the rate desired.

Manipulation of the jacks 98, 100 to raise the unit may be done ifrequired as in grinding machines, to facilitate discharge, with themotor 104 then reversed to feed the rings off the coil rack member 20.

' From this description, it can be seen that a great number of rings maybe stored on the coil rack member 20 since they are positioned parallelto each other on the coil rack 20. In addition, a wide variety of ringsizes can be received since the coil rack 20 and the wiper assembly 14will operate to receive rings of greatly varying diameter. Thus, manualhandling of the rings may be eliminated with expeditious handling of therings provided.

In FIGS. 6-9, a gravity feed embodiment is illustrated. In this unit, acoil rack 122 is secured to a mounting platform 124 by means of aclamping arrangement shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Set screws 126 and 128 andclamp screw 130 serve to clamp the lower end of the coil rack 122 to theplatform 124, which is in turn secured to base 132 supported on casters134, 136, 138 so as to render this embodiment portable to provide forconvenient movement to and from storage areas. A stop block 140 isprovided clamped to the extreme lower end of the coil rack 122. Adetachable eye bolt 142 (FIG. 7) is also provided which may be securedto the coil rack 122 on segment 144.

In use, the end segment 144 is positioned at an acceptance point so asto receive the rings 120, which descend onto the coil rack 122 under theinfluence of gravity which may be assisted by means of an air vibrator(not shown) or other such means. When the coil rack is full,mountingplatform 124 is released by manipulation of the clamps 130, with the eyebolt 142 then being secured to the segment 144. The operator then raisesthe loaded coil rack 12 by means of a hoist and positions the lowersegment 146 at the delivery point such as the receiving point of thegrinding machine, thereafter allowing feed from the coil rack 122 byremoval of the stop block 140. This may also be facilitated by use of anair vibrator (not shown).

From the above description, it can be appreciated that a simple, compactstorage and feeding unit has been provided which allows expeditious andefficient handling of piston rings and articles of a similar nature.

What is claimed is:

1. A storage unit for articles having openings therethrough comprising:

a helically coiled rack member;

means for feeding said articles onto said rack through said openings;and

means for advancing said articles along said rack member, includingwiper means rotatable about the axis of and relative to said rackmember, said wiper means including at least one wiper member disposed toengage articles on said rack member and said rack member;

means providing substantial support for said rack member by said wipermember engagement therewith; and

also including means for rotating said wiper member relative to saidrack member about said axis, whereby said articles may be advanced bysaid at least one wiper member along said rack member withoutinterference from external supports.

2. The unit of claim 1 wherein said rack member has a segment at one endextending tangentially from said helix and further including means forselectively positioning said rack member at variable rotationalpositions about said axis, whereby said segment is disposed inselectively variable positions.

3. The unit of claim 1 wherein said rack member is disposed with thehelix axis disposed substantially horizontally.

4. The unit of claim 3 wherein the wiper means is disposed within saidrack member and wherein said at least one wiper member has a portionengaging the inside of said rack member at one end.

5. The unit of claim 4 wherein said means providing substantial supportfor said rack member includes means for rotatably supporting said atleast one wiper member whereby support for said rack member one end isprovided by said wiper member.

6. The unit of claim 5 wherein said portion is a roller element.

7. The unit of claim 3 wherein said wiper means includes a plurality ofangularly spaced wiper members disposed to engage said articles and saidrack member.

8. The unit of claim 7 wherein said wiper means each include a portionengaging said rack member at one end, and wherein said means providingsubstantial support for said rack member includes means for rotatablysupporting said wiper members, whereby support for said rack member isprovided.

9. The unit of claim 8 further including a support member secured to theother end of said rack member and further including means for fixingsaid support member against angular movement about said axis relative tosaid wiper means.

10. The unit of claim 9 further including means for selectively shiftingthe fixed relative position of said wiper means and said support plate.

11. The unit of claim 3 further including means for selectively raisingone end of said rack member.

12. The unit of claim 1 wherein said at least one wiper memberpositively engages said rack member to provide said substantial supportfor said rack member.

1. A storage unit for articles having openings therethrough comprising:a helically coiled rack member; means for feeding said articles ontosaid rack through said openings; and means for advancing said articlesalong said rack member, including wiper means rotatable about the axisof and relative to said rack member, said wiper means including at leastone wiper member disposed to engage articles on said rack member andsaid rack member; means providing substantial support for said rackmember by said wiper member engagement therewith; and also includingmeans for rotating said wiper member relative to said rack member aboutsaid axis, whereby said articles may be advanced by said at least onewiper member along said rack member without interference from externalsupports.
 2. The unit of claim 1 wherein said rack member has a segmentat one end extending tangentially from said helix and further includingmeans for selectively positioning said rack member at variablerotational positions about said axis, whereby said segment is disposedin selectively variable positions.
 3. The unit of claim 1 wherein saidrack member is disposed with the helix axis disposed substantiallyhorizontally.
 4. The unit of claim 3 wherein the wiper means is disposedwithin said rack member and wherein said at least one wiper member has aportion engaging the inside of said rack member at one end.
 5. The unitof claim 4 wherein said means providing substantial support for saidrack member includes means for rotatably supporting said at least onewiper member whereby support for said rack member one end is provided bysaid wiper member.
 6. The unit of claim 5 wherein said portion is aroller element.
 7. The unit of claim 3 wherein said wiper means includesa plurality of angularly spaced wiper members disposed to engage saidarticles and said rack member.
 8. The unit of claim 7 wherein said wipermeans each include a portion engaging said rack member at one end, andwherein said means providing substantial support for said rack memberincludes means for rotatably supporting said wiper members, wherebysupport for said rack member is provided.
 9. The unit of claim 8 furtherincluding a support member secured to the other end of said rack memberand further including means for fixing said support member againstangular movement about said axis relative to said wiper means.
 10. Theunit of claim 9 further including means for selectively shifting thefixed relative position of said wiper means and said support plate. 11.The unit of claim 3 further including means for selectively raising oneend of said rack member.
 12. The unit of claim 1 wherein said at leastone wiper member positively engages said rack member to provide saidsubstantial support for said rack member.